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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

My husband had changed after 12 years together

18 replies

Nicstar84 · 27/04/2025 14:12

Hi, I'm looking for some advice and opinions. This is a long complex story, but here goes. My husband (37) and I (40) have been together for 12 years, married for 10. We have 2 daughters, 6 & 8. We have always had a great relationship. It's always been easy, but I feel like he's changed and become much more selfish this last year. When my eldest was only about 2, he got made redundant from his stable ok paid job. I worked part time after my daughter was born because i needed and wanted to be home for her and we made enough money to survive, not thrive, but survive. After that he bounced around a few jobs he didn't particularly like, or particularly make enough money from. So we decided, In order for us to make more money i should go full time again, once both children were at school and nursery, but in order for me to go full time at work, he would have to work at my place and we would work opposite shifts. We don't have any parents to help us with the kids, so solely rely on ourselves. I explained to him beforehand it would be for the longhaul because it would not work if we worked at different places. He agreed and was happy with the situation. In becoming full time I also was given the role of assistant manager. After some time, he too became an assistant manager in a different department. We were earning more than we'd ever earned before and were finally able to take our children on their first holiday abroad. Eventually, he was having ideas about leaving the job and I told him I couldn't see it working and I didn't want him to leave. I didn't want to be a controlling wife, so I ultimately left the decision to him. He found a job that he thought would work, but i would have to mostly work early shifts. He would be on more money than he was on before, so he handed in his notice. I quickly realised that the new manager that took over the day he handed in his notice would not allow me to continue in my role as assistant manager and I'd have to drop down to staff, due to flexibility issues. Once realising this he tried to retract his notice and they refused. So he had to start the new job. Upon starting the new job he realised he was working more hours than anticipated and was hardly ever seeing me or the kids. So he found a new job with his friend, which was more money than the previous job. Only thing is I couldn't work at my place of work as he would be out early in the morning until anything from 3pm to 6pm, leaving me having to work school hours. So I got a job delivering parcels. Problem is upon, this change we find our financial situation is worse off. Now to the issues. The guys that he works with, except his friend are total wasters, smoking weed everyday and taking drugs all weekend. Due to our financial situation he would occasionally work at a takeaway delivering for them in am evening. Suddenly, he seemed to be working there more and more and not seeing me or the kids as much again. I could feel there was something not right about this and looked on his phone. I found messages to one of his colleagues asking to buy weed. £100 in a month. £100 we need. £100 that could have been spent on the kids. I have always been clear from the start of our relationship I will not put up with lies and deception. Lie to me even once, and I will never trust you. He also knows I don't like drugs. I know he used to smoke it when he was younger before he met me, and had the odd drag from friends once in a bluemoon. He has never been a regular weed smoker, nor has he bought it while we've been together. I confronted him and he acted like a teenager that had just befn caught out. He refuses to stop, but he said he will cut down. I have him an ultimatum, stop or were done. I do not want a weed smoker as a partner. This sparked a huge row and the job situation came up because I hold resentment to him for losing my position as assistant manager. I've come to the realisation that I have an inferiority complex and that job was the one thing I had that I could feel proud I'd worked hard for. It may not seem much to others, but for me who has never been the smartest or most confident it was something I could feel good about. We are at a crossroads and I don't know what to do, trust and respect has gone for me and he clearly doesn't respect me. I don't want to lose him, but I also don't want a weed smoker or someone who would lie to me. I am looking into marriage councilling, but will take weeks on nhs, we need help now.

OP posts:
Maitri108 · 27/04/2025 14:24

I wasn't aware that marriage guidance was available on the NHS.

You're not at a crossroads, your relationship is over as you issued an ultimatum and he refused to give up weed. I doubt he's only been smoking for a short while.

Fiver555 · 27/04/2025 14:25

So he has lost you your assistant manager job, made the whole family worse off, and is now smoking weed regularly? Honestly, and I don't say this lightly, get rid of him. Find a way to make it work as a single parent - at least you won't have to worry about him anymore.

Happyspendingthedayinthegarden · 27/04/2025 14:35

Oh darling - what a load you have on your shoulders.

I will try to unpick this...

Smoking weed isn't just about the money that he's spending (many couples happy with having a drink after work, football/rugby games etc as an expense). However weed removes any motivation from the person who's smoking it. You also have DCs - not good for him to be smoking weed around them (if he does), but equally not good for him to smoke away from them & be stoned when with them. Not to mention that it's illegal & your neighbours will smell it.

You seem to be the person who is holding everything together. I feel for you about your job.

I have no doubt that you will get loads of messages saying LTB. But I think that you need to sit down & talk to him about how he's feeling & where he sees your lives going. NHS counselling is cash-strapped, and, as you say, you will have to wait. Does your (or his) employer have any help with this kind of thing? There are also organisations along the lines of Narcotics Anonymous & Relate (formerly Marriage Guidance) who will probably be able to help you sooner than the NHS. You will probably have to pay, but if it saves your marriage or, if not, facilitates an amicable separation probably worth the money.

Take care of yourself & your DCs. You are a strong woman & can work through this. 😘

Nicstar84 · 27/04/2025 15:05

Hi,
He said he's been smoking it outside with the door closed. I'm not sure exactly when he's been smoking it though. I told him I don't want it in our house. I said your putting our kids at risk and what if the police want to search our house for some reason, that's putting me at risk, when I've done nothing wrong. I said he's also putting his job in jeopardy having it in his van. He has an answer for everything. His response, I'll leave it at my friends, roll a joint and smoke it outside when I get home, so hes not driving high. Still having it in his van though. Other thing is we don't have separate money, it's one pot and it's our money, not his. There's many layers to why i don't want him smoking it. He see's it as black and white, like I'm trying yo control him.

OP posts:
WakingUpToReality · 27/04/2025 15:09

Just to say you probably don’t have an inferiority complex, don’t try to find things wrong with yourself. You were 100% justified in being upset at losing that role. That’s career progression (and future earnings) that was denied to you because of his irresponsibility and lack of concern for you.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 27/04/2025 15:10

What are you getting out of this relationship now?.

He’s no example of a father to your children is he?. They are likely more aware to about the state of your marriage than you care to realise.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 27/04/2025 15:14

And he knows how you feel and he does not care.

If counselling is to be at all considered here go on your own as you need to talk in both a calm and safe environment. NHS counselling is only six sessions and very limited in scope too.

Happyspendingthedayinthegarden · 27/04/2025 15:23

Nicstar84 · 27/04/2025 15:05

Hi,
He said he's been smoking it outside with the door closed. I'm not sure exactly when he's been smoking it though. I told him I don't want it in our house. I said your putting our kids at risk and what if the police want to search our house for some reason, that's putting me at risk, when I've done nothing wrong. I said he's also putting his job in jeopardy having it in his van. He has an answer for everything. His response, I'll leave it at my friends, roll a joint and smoke it outside when I get home, so hes not driving high. Still having it in his van though. Other thing is we don't have separate money, it's one pot and it's our money, not his. There's many layers to why i don't want him smoking it. He see's it as black and white, like I'm trying yo control him.

So he's smoking it outside your house - I can guarantee the neighbours will smell it & someone may report it.

Only bringing one pre-rolled joint home - BOLLOCKS! Of course he has more - what about the days when he doesn't work?

Does he drive for a living? He may get caught drug-driving as the effects last for a long time after you've smoked. Most companies who have professional drivers have a policy of spot testing - if he were found to be positive for ANY amount of weed in his system he could lose his job. There is no legal limit for the amount of weed in your system.

I suggest that you get yourself a separate bank account. One for his money, one for your's & one for household expenses. That's the way DH & me have always managed our finances.

You are not trying to control him, you are keeping yourself, your DCs & him safe. Not to mention trying to save your marriage.

Nicstar84 · 27/04/2025 15:26

I plan to do work on myself. I definitely have an inferiority complex. I've looked it up and it is very typically me. He kept trying to fix it after the job situation. Kept saying we'll both find something knew then, but it can't be fixed, it's never going to be the same again. I was at that job for 9 years in various positions. It obviously doesn't bother him moving from one job to another. I will never get back what I lost. He said he will go to marriage councilling, but he doesn't see anything wrong with himself and doesn't see why he needs to work on himself. I said we've all got flaws, nobody is perfect. We all need to take a look inside ourselves sometimes and do some work on making ourselves the best we can be.

OP posts:
Nicstar84 · 27/04/2025 15:31

Yes he does drive a company van. He's classed as self-employed but it's a company. He can drive pretty long distances for his jobs. I made the point about the neighbours smelling it. We live in a nice area and I don't want to be associated with it.

OP posts:
SapporoBaby · 27/04/2025 15:32

You’re not trying to control him. You’re warning him of the consequences of his choices - mainly that smoking it means the end of his marriage and loss of full time custody of his children.

He may not see that as a choice but it is. HIS CHOICE decides it.

SapporoBaby · 27/04/2025 15:34

If you wanted to stick the knife in you could remind him that if you divorce and go to a custody court they could test him for drugs. And if he’s smoking it he will not get unsupervised custody of his children as they will see him as a drug user.

Happyspendingthedayinthegarden · 27/04/2025 15:35

Nicstar84 · 27/04/2025 15:26

I plan to do work on myself. I definitely have an inferiority complex. I've looked it up and it is very typically me. He kept trying to fix it after the job situation. Kept saying we'll both find something knew then, but it can't be fixed, it's never going to be the same again. I was at that job for 9 years in various positions. It obviously doesn't bother him moving from one job to another. I will never get back what I lost. He said he will go to marriage councilling, but he doesn't see anything wrong with himself and doesn't see why he needs to work on himself. I said we've all got flaws, nobody is perfect. We all need to take a look inside ourselves sometimes and do some work on making ourselves the best we can be.

Yes, he's right, we all have flaws & no-one is perfect. But what he doesn't see is how this is affecting you. Your career has been damaged.

He says that he doesn't see why he needs to work on himself. Sorry Hun, we all need to work on ourselves to strive to be the best partner & best person that we can be. We strive to make ourselves better because we're not perfect & have flaws - we work on those things. Sounds like the weed is making him complacent & lazy - which is what it does. Also sounds like him agreeing to marriage counselling is to placate you as he doesn't see that there's a problem.

I urge you to open 2 accounts tomorrow - one for yourself that you have your salary paid into, another for the household expenses. You can work out what the household expenses are every month, put half, or, if he earns more than you, what proportion of his & your salary needs to go in there & get ready to be tough on him.

My DH is retired & only has a small pension. I still work & have an monthly income of about 40% more than he has. So, I pay 40% more into the household account than he does. If he wants to buy himself an expensive bottle of whiskey or treat himself to some cigars (he likes to enjoy both occasionally) he buys it from his personal account.

TipsyJoker · 27/04/2025 19:13

Bin

mathanxiety · 27/04/2025 19:33

Fiver555 · 27/04/2025 14:25

So he has lost you your assistant manager job, made the whole family worse off, and is now smoking weed regularly? Honestly, and I don't say this lightly, get rid of him. Find a way to make it work as a single parent - at least you won't have to worry about him anymore.

All of this.

He's a selfish loser, OP, and he will bounce through jobs his whole life. You'll never know any stability and you'll never be able to trust him.

The 'cutting down' - he's lying. He has no intention of ever being a true partner to you, being a responsible father, or having your back.

mathanxiety · 27/04/2025 19:33

Fiver555 · 27/04/2025 14:25

So he has lost you your assistant manager job, made the whole family worse off, and is now smoking weed regularly? Honestly, and I don't say this lightly, get rid of him. Find a way to make it work as a single parent - at least you won't have to worry about him anymore.

All of this.

He's a selfish loser, OP, and he will bounce through jobs his whole life. You'll never know any stability and you'll never be able to trust him.

The 'cutting down' - he's lying. He has no intention of ever being a true partner to you, being a responsible father, or having your back.

mathanxiety · 27/04/2025 19:33

Fiver555 · 27/04/2025 14:25

So he has lost you your assistant manager job, made the whole family worse off, and is now smoking weed regularly? Honestly, and I don't say this lightly, get rid of him. Find a way to make it work as a single parent - at least you won't have to worry about him anymore.

All of this.

He's a selfish loser, OP, and he will bounce through jobs his whole life. You'll never know any stability and you'll never be able to trust him.

The 'cutting down' - he's lying. He has no intention of ever being a true partner to you, being a responsible father, or having your back.

mathanxiety · 27/04/2025 19:33

Sorry, don't know how I managed to post three times.

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